Inauguration of Donald Trump: what time will it be, where to watch and everything you need to know about the event

Inauguration day in the United States marks the presidential inauguration and swearing-in of the new commander-in-chief. In 2025, it will be Donald Trump who makes his oath of office and will become president for the second time. The businessman-turned-politician was the forty-fifth president of the United States, and will now be the forty-seventh, after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election. Although he refused to participate in the 2021 inauguration of President Joe Biden, Trump will now follow protocol.

This year, Inauguration Day coincides with Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday, so all federal and state courts will be closed, as will non-essential services and major banks. Likewise, no Postal Service offices will be open, and some businesses will give their employees the day off. Here’s everything you need to know.

When is Donald Trump’s inauguration?

The inauguration ceremony for Donald Trump’s second presidency will take place on Monday, January 20 at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The inauguration is held every four years on the 20th, unless that date falls on a Sunday. In that case, the ceremony would be held on January 21.

What time is the inauguration?

The inauguration ceremony is scheduled for 12.00 pm ET. President Trump and Vice President Vance will be sworn in before Trump delivers his inaugural address.

How to watch the inauguration?

The inauguration will be streamed live on multiple news channels, including ABC, NBC, CNN, CBS, C-SPAN, Fox News, MSNBC, PBS, among others. It can also be viewed on the White House live stream.

What is the agenda for the day?

According to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), the inauguration includes the following events:

• The procession to the Capitol: The outgoing president accompanies the president-elect to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony. At the previous inauguration, Donald Trump declined to accompany President Joe Biden and did not show up.
• The vice president’s swearing-in ceremony: The second in command took his oath in the Senate chamber until 1937. Since then, it has been done in the Capitol building prior to the swearing-in of the president-elect.
• The president’s swearing-in ceremony.
• Inaugural address: Trump will deliver his first remarks as president following the tradition that began with George Washington in 1789.
• Honorary departure: After the ceremonies, the outgoing president and first lady depart the Capitol.
• Signing ceremony: In the President’s Room of the Capitol, President Donald Trump will make the first decisions of his administration.
• Inaugural luncheon: The traditional inaugural luncheon, which has been organized since 1953, will be held for the new president, vice-president and guests.
• Pass in review: After lunch, the president and vice president proceed to the steps of the East Front of the Capitol where they conduct a review of military troops before leading a parade of ceremonial military regiments, citizens’ groups, marching bands and floats down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

What does the presidential oath say?

During the swearing-in ceremony, President Trump will say: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

For his part, Vice President J.D. Vance will say, “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”